The Daily Iowan - 02.10.2021

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021 UI COVID-19 NUMBERS Number of self-reported cases for COVID-19 Students: 7 new cases, 2,942 to-date Employees: 3 new cases, 431 to-date Data reflect since Feb. 5. 2021 Source: UI COVID-19 campus update

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Saying ‘I do’ at 75 and 82 When social distancing became the new normal, Warren Paris and Jerri MacConnell tied the knot to ensure they’d be closer than ever before.

INSIDE

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Marco’s Grilled Cheese to open island-themed restaurant

Growing from its start as a food truck 20 years ago, Marco’s Grilled Cheese is expanding to a new sister restaurant downtown called Marco’s Island, helping to bring the Caribbean to Iowa City.

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University of Iowa dance team looks ahead to nationals In November 2020, the Iowa dance team finally got the allclear to begin practicing again.

Now, they are gearing up to compete at nationals in April.

Hear from two current team members as well as the University of Iowa Dance Team coach.

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Kate Heston/The Daily Iowan Warren Paris (left) and Jerri MacConnell (right) pose for a portrait with their dog, Ginger, at their Iowa City apartment on Monday. The pair got married in September after quarantining together during the COVID-19 pandemic. They met at a “Write Your Life Story” class at the Senior Center.

BY GRACE HAMILTON

grace-hamilton@uiowa.edu Jerri MacConnell knew she’d marry Warren Paris once her apartment’s new management began enforcing COVID-19 guidelines that cut short the number of days another person could stay with her.

“Their guidelines were that you could only have a

visitor for two weeks, and only 60 days during the year,” MacConnell said. “And I was like, ‘That won’t work; let’s get married.’ And so, we did.”

On the big day, Paris wore a Mexican wedding shirt to match his son — who attended as a witness — and MacConnell adorned her hair with a crown of flowers. The couple shared personally written vows in a flower-lined walkway leading to the city park as

NATIONAL POLITICS

Martin’s gritty continues

career

Iowa women’s basketball team captain and sophomore guard Kate Martin has proven how tough she is this year, playing with a broken nose and a protective facemask since she was hit in the face by a basketball Jan. 3.

How Biden’s EOs will affect Iowa Of the 29 executive orders Biden has signed so far, directives on student loans, agriculture, health care, and DEI rank among those with significant action.

Despite a drop in sexual assaults reported to Iowa City police since the pandemic’s start, health care workers say assault rates are likely still high and care still necessary.

the White House.

Ian Mariani, press secretary for U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, said the extension is an important piece of economic relief for students trying to keep up with rent and debt payments during the pandemic.

“We did this originally in March and have continued to see the pandemic last longer than might have been first thought, and we were happy to see those things in place,” Mariani said.

A significant chunk of the platform Biden ran on in the 2020 election was to work on legislation to forgive student debt and invest in trade schools, though so far none of his executive actions have canceled any student debt.

Listed on his campaign website, Biden promised to pass sweeping legislation lessening the burden of student debt through actions such as including an immediate $10,000 student-loan cancellation in his

Both the Iowa City Police Department and the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team have seen a significant drop in sexual-assault reports since the start of the pandemic. While reports have decreased, however, experts say the effects of COVID-19 may prevent victims from seeking treatment.

According to data provided by Iowa City police, there were 48 sexual assaults reported between March 1, 2020, and Jan. 31 — roughly a 57-percent decrease from the same period last year.

Coordinator for the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team Katy Rasmussen, who is also a practicing sexual assault nurse examiner, said she’s seen a similar decrease in the number of patients coming in for sexual assault-related care.

“Our numbers are really down,” Rasmussen said.

“Studies show that during pandemics or times of crisis like natural disasters, domestic violence really goes up. And so, you would assume, because domestic violence and sexual assault can be really closely related, that you would see the same thing. We’re just not seeing that.”

Rasmussen said she does not believe the drop in patients means sexual assaults are not being committed during this time.

“I would love to never have patients,” she said. “I would love there to be no need for me to have this job, but I don’t think that’s the current case.”

Assessment Coordinator for the Iowa City Rape Victim Advocacy Program Emily Milke said she shares Rasmussen’s concerns.

“I think there’s still sexual assault happening at alarming rates. It was underreported, and now it’s still underreported,” Milke said. “There might be people out there who don’t know that they can still go to the ER and that hours are still open. They might be worried about picking up the [COVID-19] virus at the hospital and don’t want to take that risk. There are probably people who don’t even know that going to the hospital is an option.”

The Rape Abuse and Incest National Network re-

SEE BIDEN, 2

SEE RVAP, 2

Two new studies from the University of Iowa’s College of PubStefani Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images/TNS lic Health highlight the chal- President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the national economy in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 5 lenges of farming communities and the nature of their prob- BY BRIAN GRACE The order, signed on Jan. 20, directs the U.S. acting lems, including rates of demen- brian-grace@uiowa.edu Secretary of Education to pause loan payments and tia and the effects of COVID-19. keep interest rates on loans at 0 percent, according to

Watch for campus and city news, weather, and Hawkeye sports coverage every day at dailyiowan.com.

Fewer sexual assaults reported, but abuse not gone

lily-rosenmarvin@uiowa.edu

College of Public Health examines mental health challenges for farmers

Tune in for LIVE updates

SEE ‘I DO’, 2

BY LILY ROSEN MARVIN

ONLINE

Go to dailyiowan.com to read more.

they were officially declared man and wife on Sept.

19.

Paris’ and MacConnell’s marriage is an outlier among the country’s current marriage rates. A Bowling Green State University study of COVID-19’s effect on marital relationships showed that recorded

As the nation enters its first full month of Joe Biden’s presidency, the 46th president has signed 29 executive orders as of Feb. 9, with 17 of them signed within his first two days in office.

That number is more than his two most recent predecessors signed within that same time frame, and likely more than any president dating back to Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s time in office, according to The American Presidency Project and a Jan. 22 PolitiFact article.

Here’s a look at some of the orders he’s signed so far, including action on student loans, climate, agriculture, diversity education, and health care.

Student Loan Freeze One of Biden’s earliest executive actions prolonged the existing freeze on student loan payments as a result of economic hardships plaguing Americans under the pandemic until at least Sept. 30.

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tate Hildyard/The Daily Iowan Nodo shift manager Logan Duffy prepares a set of sandwiches for a takeout order at Nodo on Tuesday. Because of the cold weather and COVID-19 regulations, foot traffic in the restaurant has been much slower than usual.

Biden also revoked a permit Trump granted in March 2019 to continue development of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which, according to the Global Energy Institute, would significantly expand on an already existing oil pipeline and allow for massive amounts of the fossil fuels to be transported from Canada to as far south as Texas.

The expansion was originally proposed in 2008 and over the years has garnered much controversy, with proponents arguing in favor of a surge of job openings in building the pipeline and cheaper consumer gas when it reaches completion, and opponents arguing for the adverse effects it could have on the environment if it spills.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, co-signed a letter with 25 other U.S. senators condemning Biden’s decision to halt development on the pipeline, stating that not following through on development would compromise thousands of middle-class jobs and billions in wage revenue, especially during the pandemic.

“Your actions will have grave consequences for our constituents, and taking these actions on your very first week as President, with no input from those of us who represent these hard working

Americans is counter to the desires of the American people who want practical, bipartisan solutions to our nation’s challenges, and who want policies that support working families,” the letter stated.

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Volume 153 Issue 41

STAFF Publisher. . . . . . . . . .335-5788 Jason Brummond Executive Editor. . . . .335-6030 Sarah Watson Managing Editor Zandra Skores, Caleb McCullough Managing Digital Editor Kelsey Harrell Asst. Digital Editor, Engagement Molly Milder News Editors Rylee Wilson, Rachel Schilke Photo Editor Hannah Kinson Design Editor Kate Doolittle Politics Editor Julia Shanahan Opinions Editor Hannah Pinski Asst. Opinions Editor Lucee Laursen Arts Editors Maddie Lotenschtein, Josie Fischels Sports Editor Austin Hanson Asst. Sports Editor Isaac Goffin Sports Projects Editor Robert Read Copy Editor Katie Ann McCarver Visuals Director Katie Goodale DITV News Director Bailey Cichon Managing TV Director Harley Atchison TV Sports Director Tianna Torrejon DEI Director Cesar Perez Films Director Ryan Adams Documentary Director Jake Maish

Under a single executive action on his inauguration day, Biden revoked two similar Trump-era executive orders relating to U.S. handlings of diversity and equity education.

One was signed by Trump in September and prevented federal agencies and institutions receiving federal grants from offering diversity, equity, and inclusion training that perpetuated race or sex “scapegoating.”

As federally funded institutions, public colleges and universities were among those affected, and as previously reported by The Daily Iowan, the restriction led to controversy regarding free speech on the University of Iowa’s own campus that ultimately led to the state Legislature’s involvement.

Following Biden’s executive order, federal agencies have up to 60 days to review and potentially rescind any previous direction to withhold federal funding to institutions in violation of Trump’s fall execu-

tive order.

The second order Biden revoked was signed by Trump on Nov. 2 and established the 1776 Commission, which was tasked with compiling a report before the end of Trump’s presidency refuting “reckless ‘re-education’ attempts that seek to reframe American history around the idea that the United States is not an exceptional country but an evil one,” according to an archived post from the White House.

The report, which was published just two days before Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20 and intended to establish what Trump deemed an accurate account of the nation’s founding, was met with criticism from historians following its release.

The American Historical Association publicly condemned the report in a January press release, saying it lacked any consultation with U.S. historians and that the report “fails to engage a rich and vibrant body of scholarship that has evolved over the last seven decades.”

As of Feb. 9, 46 organizations have co-signed the American Historical Association’s statement.

Loren Glass, UI English professor and president of the Iowa chapter of the American Association of University Pro-

wedding, which she attended as a witness.

But, Kauder said she wasn’t entirely shocked when her mother told her of the pair’s marriage plans.

“They are best friends. They like to tease each other, and he makes her laugh,” Kauder said. “I can imagine how isolating it is with Kate Heston/The Daily Iowan this whole panWarren Paris (left) and Jerri MacConnell (right) show their wedding rings at their Iowa demic. It would City apartment on Monday. be so lonely for older adults, and reflects desires of many other they’re both in a high-risk couples. A Brides survey pub- population. Now, she has lished in October 2020 of 4,000 someone there with her that CONTINUED FROM FRONT engaged respondents showed she can count on.”

Although the pandemic’s state trends reflect a signifi- that 82 percent reported living encouraged cant decline in U.S. marriag- together during the pandem- implications es, amounting to nearly a ic has made them more eager MacConnell and Paris to tie 350,000 drop off from 2019’s to marry and weather life’s the knot, their love took shape a year before COVID-19 began storms together.

2.2 million marriages.

MacConnell’s daughter, spreading across the globe.

Nonetheless, the drive of MacConnell and Paris met Paris and MacConnell to get Jennifer Kauder, was moved married during the pandemic by MacConnell and Paris’ each other in a class at the

Iowa City Senior Center four years ago, where participants wrote and discussed their life stories.

A few years after forming a friendship in class, Paris said the two started having lunch together to talk about their interests.

“One of the things I noticed is that she has such a breadth of knowledge about so much,” Paris said. “I remember that she had the Constitution on her coffee table in her apartment. And I thought, ‘Wow, that’s different and unique.’

She started questioning me about my intentions, and apparently, I must have passed the test.”

Paris also credits his chihuahua, Ginger, with sparking his romance with MacConnell.

MacConnell dog-sat for Paris while he was out of town in October 2019. When Paris returned to pick up Ginger, MacConnell said he continued to stick around.

“He never really left,” MacConnell said. “We’ve called Ginger ‘the matchmaker’ ever

Kate Heston/The Daily Iowan Warren Paris shows a photo of him and his wife, Jerri MacConnell, at their wedding. Because of the pandemic, only eight other people could be in attendance at their wedding.

concerns about how isolation is impacting victims of sexual assault.

“People come forward in a whole host of situations, but sometimes it’s at the encouragement of a friend who notices, ‘Hey you’re not your usual kind of self, what’s going on?’” she said. “Or it’s at the encouragement of family that you see.”

The reduced frequency of these interactions, coupled with other stressful events related to the pandemic such as job loss or medical issues, may help explain the decrease in reporting, Milke said.

Thompson said she tells sexual assault victims that the decision to go to the hospital is entirely their call. She said she

provides victims with information about timelines for reporting and is there to support victims in whatever decision they make.

For victims who chose to come into the hospital, Rasmussen said she understands their concerns about COVID-19 and that hospitals are taking precautions to protect patients.

“The hospitals here are doing everything we can to limit people’s exposure,” Rasmussen said. “They require masks which are a great way of protecting yourself and those around you. They’re doing temperature checks and screenings at all the entrances.”

Rasmussen said she

helped create a protocol for COVID-19-positive patients to receive care from nurse examiners, ensuring they are ready to help any victim who comes through their doors.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners are still able to offer patients all the same services, including medication for STDs, emergency contraception, and forensic exams. Patients can choose which parts of the exam they’re comfortable with and all care is provided free of charge to the individual, Rasmussen said.

Milke and Thompson said both have adapted their services since the pandemic, offering remote support to victims as well as limited

BIDEN CONTINUED FROM FRONT COVID-19 response and increasing scrutiny on private lenders profiting from student-loan interest.

Climate and Agriculture Biden signed an executive order on Jan. 27 outlining U.S. solutions to climate obstacles on both a national and global level, which emphasizes a reliance on scientific findings and the full backing of federal agencies.

A section of the order is devoted to agriculture and the conservation of public land and water properties, where Biden calls on farmers, ranchers, and landowners to help reduce harmful fossil fuel emissions by sequestering carbon through new farming methods.

“Among other details, President Biden’s climate executive order specifically directs USDA to collect input from farmers on how to use federal programs to encourage adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices that produce carbon reductions,” said Rachel Gantz, the communications director for the National Pork Producers Council.

In a Jan. 20 executive order,

DEI Education

‘I DO’

RVAP CONTINUED FROM FRONT ported that access to sexual assault forensic exams, rape kits, may be reduced in areas hardest hit by COVID-19.

While both University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Mercy Iowa City continue to provide 24/7 access to forensic care, Rasmussen said she worries some patients aren’t coming into the hospital.

“We’re not seeing the same number of patients and it’s hard for us because we’re not able to provide the services,” she said.

This problem isn’t unique to Iowa. Nurses around the coun-

try have reported a significant decrease in patients looking for sexual assault-related care since the start of the pandemic.

Victim Services Coordinator with the Iowa City Police Ann Thompson said it’s possible the pandemic could be having an impact on sexual-assault victims coming forward.

“With sexual-assault victims as well as DV [domestic violence] victims, they’re not as likely to report. And there could be a myriad of other reasons why they’re not reporting.

But I’m sure the pandemic has an impact,” Thompson said.

“More people are isolated. They may not want to reach out as much.”

Milke added that she has

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fessors, said the reversal of Trump’s order on diversity, equity, and inclusion training will allow universities like Iowa to invest energy into training and initiatives that will improve community climate for students and faculty of color.

“I think that this work is

as important as the work that’s been done on sexual harassment in the workplace,” Glass said. “I see [DEI training] as only one part of a larger project working for greater equity and access across society of course, but specifically in higher public education institutions.”

since.”

Ginger can’t take all of the credit, however. Paris and MacConnell’s blossoming relationship and marriage amid a pandemic have led them to cherish each other all the more, Paris said.

“One of the things that happened is that as we were spending time with each other, all of a sudden, it seemed like everything just melded together,” Paris said. “We’re

able to be honest with each other about our concerns, joys, and plans.”

MacConnell admitted that before meeting Paris, she never thought a romance would unfold in her life.

“I wasn’t looking to be in a relationship — I was OK by myself,” she said. “But then Warren came along, and other elderly people have told me that our marriage gives them hope.”

in-person support in accordance with health and safety guidelines.

Sexual-assault nurse examiners are on call 24/7 at both UIHC and Mercy Hospital, Rasmussen said. “[Sexual assault] is something that deserves medical care,” Rasmussen said. “Each person has to weigh whether, for them personally, they’d rather get that medical treatment or if they feel that the risk of exposure is too much.

That’s a very personal decision and they have to make that decision for themselves but we’re doing everything we can to make sure people are safe and that they can receive that medical care that they need.”

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

NEWS 3

University of Iowa Dance Team looks ahead to nationals

In November, the Iowa dance team finally got the all-clear to begin practicing again. Now they are gearing up to compete in Orlando for a national dance competition in April.

BY CAITLIN CROME

caitlin-crome@uiowa.edu After months of virtual practices and an empty schedule void of game appearances, the University of Iowa dance team is back to work as it prepares for the Universal Dance Association College Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

The dance team usually appears at every home basketball game, football game, and even wrestling meets.

Because of concerns surrounding the pandemic and rules put in place by the Big Ten, however, cheerleaders, bands, and spirit squads are not allowed to perform at the games this year.

“It has been challenging not being able to represent the Iowa dance team on the sidelines, but we are still following and supporting University of Iowa Athletics from afar,” UI dance team Coach Jenny Eustice said.

When the news arrived that the dancers were cleared to practice in early November, the moment marked a huge highlight of the season,

Eustice said.

“We have learned both of our nationals’ jazz and pom routines, so having those opportunities was really exciting for the team,” Eustice said.

The coach said members of the team have talked about how every moment they get to be together is special, because nothing, especially not performing, is guaranteed anymore.

Third-year student and dance-team member Kaeli Verbrugge said she’s definitley felt the challenges of this year compared to previous years.

“We are normally going to every football game, every home basketball game, wrestling, and that is a big part of what we do besides … competing at nationals.”

Verbrugge said the team is focusing on competition this year, because it is unable to perform at athletics events.

“We are just shifting our focus to what we do and competing at nationals, so it is definitely weird and different, but it allows us more time to focus on our main competition, which is also

exciting,” Verbrugge said.

UI first-year dancer Chloe Broshous said she is excited for the team to showcase the routines it recently learned these past two weekends at nationals.

“We already see the dance coming together as we practice,” she said. “I think it will be very powerful.”

The event will be held in person.

According to documents from Varsity Spirit, the organization hosting the event, anyone planning to join must monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 listed Photo of the UI dance team. by the Centers for Disease formance floors. Physical disControl and Prevention and tancing measures will be in check their own temperature place, according to the webseven days prior to travel. site, and temperature screenFace coverings are required ings will be required for entry for all guests ages 2 and up — to some locations. including the athletes, except “We are going to have our when on the practice and per- own bus that is transport-

Contributed ing us places so we are not getting mixed in with other [teams],” Broshous said.

Although with these protocols in place it won’t be a normal nationals competition, Eustice said she’s thankful for the opportunity for her team

to compete April 27 and 28.

“We are so thankful for the athletic training staff and for their level of care during the pandemic,” she said. “We are excited to represent the University of Iowa on the nationals stage in April.”

Marco’s Grilled Cheese to open island-themed restaurant The downtown Iowa City restaurant is gaining a new sister location, Marco’s Island, that will offer a Caribbean and island-style menu.

BY CAITLIN CROME

caitlin-crome@uiowa.edu What started out as a food truck is now expanding to its second restaurant. Marco’s Grilled Cheese in downtown Iowa City will soon open its doors next to a new sister location called Marco’s Island.

Around March 1, 2019, owner of Marco’s Grilled

Cheese Mark Paterno said he decided to take over the space next door to its current location.

“The motivation is to create a little sister satellite station, a different type of restaurant that would complement what we already have next door,” he said.

Paterno said he wanted the new restaurant to deliver

Jeff Sigmund/The Daily Iowan The inside of Marco’s Island is seen on Feb. 9. WIth plenty of natural lighting and plant life, the interior of the restaurant has an island feel.

foods that required a bigger kitchen than the preparation space in Marco’s Grilled Cheese could accommodate.

“I am trying to keep that island theme in there without getting too eclectic like I tend to do,” he said.

Paterno said he wants Marco’s Island to be known for its island drinks, which can be served with alcohol or as virgin drinks, as well as salads, smoothies, omelets, jerk chicken, fried rice, fish and chips, key lime pie, and more.

“A little bit more like you might find in the Caribbean or on an island,” he said.

But trying to open up a new restaurant during a pandemic hasn’t been smooth sailing, Paterno said. “[It’s been] absolutely awful,” he said. “The non-stop reacting to the environment around us and having to postpone opening it months and months longer than I wanted to.”

The biggest challenge,

he said, is trying to keep an empty, not-yet-open restaurant afloat as rent and other payments come due.

Executive Director of the Iowa City Downtown District Nancy Bird said she is also excited for Paterno to continue to expand into the new location.

“It is always fantastic when a new restaurant can open up in these conditions,” Bird said. “It is nice to see a demand for new restaurants downtown.”

University of Iowa sophomore Sydnee Herman said she’s worked at Marco’s Grilled Cheese for over a year and really enjoys the job experience.

“It is the perfect job for college students since it is downtown and easily accessible,” Herman said. “Finding a job that treats you like family seems hard in such a big college town, so I feel extremely lucky.”

Herman said she is looking forward to the new restaurant opening up, as it

will create more job opportunities near campus.

“I feel like it is hard to come up with ways to be different then the restaurants already in town,” Herman said. “Mark always has these wild ideas to stand out.”

Paterno said he’s still looking at a potential open-

ing date for the restaurant.

“We just keep reacting.

Originally it was going to be last fall, but that turned out to be a terrible idea,” he said. “I am telling myself April, so we will see, as long as nothing too crazy happens between now and then.”

4

Opinions THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

GUEST OPINION

The UI needs better hiring practices

A University of Iowa College of Law professor writes why Kevin Kregel’s appointment as provost hurts the UI’s recruitment.

Jenna Galligan/The Daily Iowan The Old Capitol as seen on March, 12, 2020.

I don’t know Kevin Kregel, so multiple reasons.

First, making such a decision the testimonials offered by the University of Iowa in support of in the middle of a search for a his appointment as provost may new president is a terrible idea. be accurate in every way. None- The search firm hired by the UI theless, I believe that the deci- will say whatever it wants about sion to change his appointment this. However, having served on from interim provost to perma- one presidential search comnent provost was a mistake for mittee and chaired another, I

know that presidential candidates care deeply about having the ability to choose all or part of their senior leadership team.

By locking his team in place with this and other recent appointments, President Bruce Harreld has greatly diminished the ability of a new president to set a new direction for the university. This will dissuade some top candidates.

Second, filling this important position without a search is bad for the UI, and contradicts the best practices in hiring that apply across campus. Those rules require advertising of even low-level positions to ensure consideration of a broad range of candidates and avoid goodold-boy decisions that undermine equal opportunity.

President Harreld’s refusal to follow those rules sets an example for others in the UI that will

have negative long-term consequences. As provost, will Mr. Kregel be able to require deans and department chairs to follow hiring rules that didn’t apply to him?

Third, hiring without a search is unlikely to yield the best candidate for the job. There are dozens — perhaps hundreds — of academics across the nation who would have applied for this position. A search may have revealed Mr. Kregel as the best person for the job, but it also may have yielded many more highly qualified candidates with experiences that would allow them to refresh and enhance the academic environment at the UI. Unfortunately, we’ll never know that he was the best person for the job.

Fourth, a search would have provided the university with the opportunity to find outside can-

didates who can bring new ideas and knowledge to our campus.

Having spent his entire career at Iowa (both as a student and as an academic), Mr. Kregel knows one way of doing things. To the extent he has ideas about necessary changes, those ideas will be uninformed by experience elsewhere.

Experience on another campus is not necessary in an academic leader, but it is useful. It helps leaders identify new ideas that have worked elsewhere, and it protects them from adopting new ideas that have proven ineffective or harmful elsewhere.

Finally, searches for campus leaders are important opportunities to identify and discuss critical campus issues and build campus community. In that respect, the search for a provost is even more important than the search for a president.

Our provost generally has an outsized role in setting the academic priorities and direction of the campus. The discussions and debates that are present during a full-fledged search for such an academic leader are of value to the campus and to the person who ultimately takes the job.

I implore Mr. Kregel and our other campus leaders to put a stop to this kind of hiring practice. It violates every principle of equal opportunity in employment, deprives the UI of the ability to choose from a wide range of talented people and it prevents the university from getting the occasional infusion of “new blood” that is essential to institutional success in a changing world.

— Jonathan Carlson, University of Iowa College of Law Professor

COLUMN

Charter schools hold back Black students

Contrary to beliefs held of conservative policymakers, evidence shows that charter schools exacerbate, not reduce, inequality SHAHAB KHAN

shahab-khan@uiowa.edu Iowa should not endorse charter schools because they exacerbate racial inequality.

Charter-school mania has arrived in Iowa as Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans are pushing for a bill that would establish a charter school program and rescue “kids trapped in failing public schools.”

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it has already been found in Michigan that charter schools lower student achievement adn widen the education gap between white

and Black students.

Proponents of charter schools argue that they will increase education standards, leading to higher student performance across the board.

However, it has been proven that this is not the case.

Michigan became one of the 10 worst performing states for education, and reading and math test scores dropped dramatically after switching from a public- to charter-school system.

In addition, these charter schools were found to have increased the financial burden of education on low-income African American commu-

nities like Detroit, Flint, and Highland Park. This made it harder for Black children to receive an education comparable to their white peers.

What Michigan provides is a cautionary tale about how, rather than increasing access to quality education, charter schools put monetary pressure on Black communities, lower test scores, and gut school systems.

The cornerstone of conservative education and civil-rights policy has been this idea that charter schools are the answer to helping close the achievement gap between white and Black students.

This simply is not the case, as rather than closing the gap, charter schools end up widening it, as shown by the failed experiment in Michigan.

Given the current state of Michigan’s schools, it would be irresponsible for Iowa to adopt a charter system.

Charter schools across the nation have high rates of discrimination against African Americans.

When it comes to punishment, charter schools have been known to use excessive disciplinary measures against Black students versus white students.

An analysis by the Center

for Civil Rights Remedies found that, compared to public schools, charter schools have higher suspension rates — including rates higher than 70 percent. Black students were also four times more likely to be suspended than white students.

This ridiculously disproportionate use of suspensions proves that charter schools have become a structural barrier that Black children have to overcome in order to maintain pace with their peers.

The National Education Association finds that suspension is the number-one indicator of whether children

will end up becoming unemployed, enrolled in welfare programs, or imprisoned as adults. Charter schools are reinforcing the systemic racism that leaves African Americans destitute.

In her Condition of the State speech, Reynolds made a point about committing to racial justice.

If she truly meant this, she should immediately withdraw her support for the bill as charter schools serve as another hurdle to keep Black people from advancing up the socio-economic ladder and achieving the American Dream.

COLUMN

University COVID-19 response needs state help If we see a spike in cases, the UI needs to respond with better administrative decisions than last semester.

BY HANNAH PINSKI

hannah-pinski@uiowa.edu Iowa City, we may be in trouble.

Iowa is one of the slowest states in vaccine distribution.

The Iowa Department of Public Health issued a supplemental vaccine shortage order that could remain in effect for up to several months.

The U.K. variant has made its way into Iowa — with two of three cases tested being here in Johnson County.

And now, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has decided to lift mask requirements and allow businesses to resume normal operations. Bars and restaurants are allowed to be packed with college students shoulder to shoulder where masks might not even be worn.

Although Iowa City’s mask mandate will remain in effect, it won’t stop bars from being crowded with college students and large gatherings from occurring.

This is a recipe for a su-

per-spreader disaster. And part of how big of a disaster this will be for the Iowa City community is the University of Iowa’s response if cases begin to rise.

Based on previous response and planning, I am worried.

Problem No. 1 that the UI must address is testing availability.

UI Health Care and Student Health only offer tests for individuals with symptoms or who were in close contact — within 6 feet for 15 minutes — with someone who tested positive.

We need testing available for anyone who wants one. Making hurdles for a practice that will help stop the spread of the virus is unacceptable as the virus continues to rage.

Problem No. 2 is a lack of planning in the fall semester and previous administrative decisions.

The UI had five months between the spring and fall semesters to safely prepare the campus for a deadly pandemic. But isolation dorms weren’t prepared, and a student had a

panic attack.

To be fair, the start of the spring semester did not come with skyrocketing cases we saw last fall and with more vaccines expected to be in student and faculty arms, fall 2020 and fall 2021 will likely be very different.

Yet, we will still need assurances that fall 2021 will not be the same. Last semester, we had a spike of 500 cases within a week back in August. Other institutions moved temporarily online when this occurred on their campus. However, the UI kept in-person classes while professors took it upon themselves to teach from home and students were coddled to make “smart decisions.” We should have moved online then, and we’ll need to trust the UI will adjust its plans in the fall if the public health situation changes.

Problem No. 3 is the UI administration’s inability to recognize its mistakes from last year.

In a previous interview with The Daily Iowan in December, long into a decline in campus

STAFF Sarah Watson Executive Editor Hannah Pinski Opinions Editor Zeina Aboushaar, Yassie Buchanan, Dylan Hood, Shahab Khan, Ally Pronina, Sophie Stover Columnists COLUMNS, CARTOONS, and OTHER OPINIONS CONTENT reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.

Sarah Watson, Alexandra Skores, Hannah Pinski, Lucee Laursen, and Cesar Perez Editorial Board EDITORIALS reflect the majority opinion of the DI Editorial Board and not the opinion of the publisher, Student Publications Inc., or the University of Iowa.

COVID-19 cases, President Bruce Harreld said he has seen social distancing and mask wearing while walking around campus and in the classroom.

That’s great, but Iowa City bars and parties were still packed downtown sometimes with maskless students. Even in my classes, we may all be wearing masks, but I am definitely not six feet away from my peers.

The UI administration should stop praising themselves and students for doing a “terrific job” last semester.

We did not. We were part of the reason the Johnson County positivity rate spiked during the fall.

We reacted to skyrocketing positive cases instead of being proactive last year, and the state offered help too little too late by closing bars after cases in university counties spiked. The safety of the UI community was left in the hands of the students without state mandates, and we know now that was a terrible idea.

Every decision made now

Ryan Adams/The Daily Iowan Gov. Kim Reynolds prepares for the State of the State Address within the house chambers of the Iowa State Capitol Building on Jan. 12 in Des Moines. must consider last year’s mistakes and be in the interest of the safety of the community.

We didn’t feel safe last semester, and that feeling has not completely gone away. But it’s not just about us — the Iowa City community is also potentially at risk. There were few serious cases of COVID-19 among students, thankfully, but this

new virus’ long-term effects aren’t yet understood. Reynolds has made an appalling decision to lift restrictions, and a spike in cases may be inevitable. But the UI must know it can’t count on support from the state for COVID-19 relief and make decisions accordingly. Otherwise, we are going to put the Iowa City community in danger.

EDITORIAL POLICY THE DAILY IOWAN which has been serving the University of Iowa, Johnson County, and state of Iowa communities for over 150 years, is committed to fair and accurate coverage of events and issues concerning these areas. In an ever-changing media landscape, the DI realizes that an often contentious political climate – paired with the widespread dissemination of news – can cause contentious discussions over some stories. Although these discussions are essential to democracy – and reiterate the importance of the freedom of expression – the DI takes great lengths to ensure that our social-media presence is free of discriminatory remarks, and inaccurate representations of the communities we ardently serve.

GUEST OPINIONS must be arranged with the Opinions Editor at least three days prior to the desired date of publication. Guest opinions are selected and edited in accordance with length, subject relevance, and space considerations. The DI will only publish one letter per author per month. No advertisements or mass mailings, please.

READER COMMENTS that may appear were originally posted on dailyiowan.com or on the DI’s social media platforms in response to published material.

Comments will be chosen for print publication when they are deemed to forward public discussion. They may be edited for length and style.

5

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

2022 midterms and a pro-gun amendment In the 2022 midterm elections, Iowans will vote on whether or not Iowa should amend its constitution to include new language to strengthen the Second Amendment. rights, requires a law to be narrowly tailored to suit a compelling government interest if the law has the potential to infringe on a basic right. Iowa would become just the fourth state in the U.S. that would use such strict language regarding the Second Amendment.

Erica Fletcher, an Iowa volunteer leader with Moms Demand Action, a national gun control advocacy group, said this year and next will involve persuading Iowans and advocating against the amendment. She said that as long as Iowans understand how this amendment could affect common sense gun laws, she’s confident Iowans will vote against it on their ballots.

The gun control advocate said she is worried that the amendment would increase gun violence and cause courts to be full of cases where domestic abusers want to obtain a firearm. Moms Demand Action, along with Everytown For Gun Safety, the umbrella group for national gun control advocacy, hope to reach voters through virtual advocacy days.

“I think that if we can communicate with voters, many of whom do not support amending the constitution, we can be on the winning side of this,” Fletcher said.

Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, proposed the amendment to the Iowa Constitution, which would state that the U.S. Second

State Paul Pate’s Office where they failed to publish the required notification that the Iowa Legislature had begun the process of amending the constitution. This setback caused the amendment process to start over.

Holt said that they started this process

BY LAUREN WHITE when Trump, who was in favor of strengthlauren-white@uiowa.edu ening the Second Amendment, was presIn 2022, Iowa politicos and ident. However, he said when it had to be other advocacy groups will not proposed a third time, it was even more imonly be campaigning for seats in portant to push through, because the federal the Legislature, but also for the Democratic majority is not as open to gun fate of a potential amendment rights as the previous Congress. to Iowa’s constitution that would The three states that have already amendmake the right to bear arms a funed their constitution to change the language regarding gun laws to strict scrutiny are damental right.

Missouri, Louisiana, and Alabama.

While Iowa voters can find the Iowa Democrats say the strict scrutiny amendment proposal on their Nolanguage would prevent the passage of any vember 2022 ballots and experts are future gun regulation that might be necesexpecting advocacy money to pour in from across the state to advertise sary to protect Iowans. it, University of Iowa Law Professor Rep. Marti Anderson, D-Des Moines, Todd Pettys said that voters often said strict scrutiny is generally reserved for don’t even make it all the way to the matters of protected classes such as race, final questions on their ballots. gender, and religion, and that the Second “People really only want to vote for Amendment should not fall under this clasthe major seats and having to flip the sification. paper over adds an extra step that Anderson said Iowa has good gun laws people do not want to do,” Pettys that protect people, and that any gun restricsaid. tions are already narrowly defined.

For more than eight years, Iowa “I opposed this bill because I don’t think Republicans have fought to amend we should extend the measure of strict scruthe Iowa Constitution tiny that is generally reserved to apply strict scrutiny for civil rights, to the, as you over the right to bear say, fundamental rights to own arms. If voters pass a gun,” Anderson said. this amendment, then Rep. Beth Wessel-Krocourts will have to apeschell, D-Ames, said the amendment, which she opply a higher standard to proposed laws regardposed, would likely take down every reasonable gun law in Ioing gun rights.

Richard Rogers, a wa if it raises the standard bevolunteer and board yond the Second Amendment member for the Iowa of the U.S. Constitution.

Firearms Coalition, Wessel-Kroeschell said the said that the Iowa current language in the U.S. Firearms Coalition, Constitution regarding the along with the NationSecond Amendment already protects the right to bear arms, al Rifle Association and other gun-rights activBen Smith/The Daily Iowan and she said strict scrutiny lanist groups, will spend Guns are displayed at Scheels in Coralville on April 11 2017. guage was unnecessary. the next two years “In this time of increased dicampaigning and persuading the Amendment rights are considered funda- visiveness after the U.S. Capitol was stormed public in favor of the amendment. mental rights to not be infringed upon with- and defiled by an armed mob with violent Iowans will hear plenty of argu- out being subject to “strict scrutiny.” intent, we need to step back. This is not the “The Second Amendment is not a second time to rush a constitutional amendment to ments both in favor of and against the amendment, he said, but was class right,” Holt said during the House Pub- eliminate Iowa’s common sense gun laws,” unwilling to share how they plan lic Safety subcommittee where the amend- Wessel-Kroeschell said. to campaign.

“We are mostly Would this amendment affect The Second Amendment is not a second Iowa’s current gun laws? concerned that we will be battling big class right. money groups over Pettys said strict scrutiny is a the next couple of common constitutional standard — Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison of review to determine if individuyears, but we are in a good position right al rights are being violated. When now to honor the rights of Iowans,” ment was introduced. “Just like the right to a court applies strict scrutiny, he said, the Rogers said. speech and the right to assemble. That’s why courts are demanding a compelling justifiGun rights enthusiasts would it’s the Second Amendment. Fundamental cation for interfering with these individual have rather had this amendment on rights deserve strict scrutiny, why would rights. the ballot in 2020 but that plan was anyone want one right less vigorously proRepublicans have been trying to change thrown off course by the Secretary of tected than another?” the Iowa Constitution since 2012 in order State’s Office. Rogers said he wanted In a yearslong process, a proposed consti- to build an “iron wall” around the Second the amendment on the 2020, ballot tutional amendment must be passed in both Amendment, Pettys said. because Iowa voted overwhelmingly the Iowa House and the Senate in two conBefore reaching questions concerning for Republicans this cycle. secutive sessions. Then, it goes on the ballot the applicable standard of review, Pettys Former President Donald Trump for a simple majority of Iowa voters to vote said, courts might conclude that many of won 53 percent of the vote in Iowa whether to ratify it. the individuals claiming that their rights are and encouraged a record turnout On Jan. 28, both chambers voted in favor being infringed upon are a part of categories for voters in the state. In the af- of the amendment, along party lines, for the that push their claims beyond the Second Amendment’s reach. termath of the 2020 election, the second time.

“If gun-rights lawmakers want to secure Holt said that he did his best to get the Hawkeye State went from having three Democratic U.S. represen- legislation through the House, but cam- impactful constitutional reform, they may tatives to three Republicans in the paigning would be the responsibility of need to tailor the language of their proposed U.S. House, while Republicans in those who support the amendment to get amendments far more closely to the specific gun rights they the state Legislature expanded their the information out to voters. wish to promajority.

Iowa is one of only six states that Why are Republicans encouraging this don’t have Second Amendment pro- amendment? tections enshrined in their state constitutions. However, including the In January 2019, the “strict scrutiny” language, a legal stan- amendment failed to dard that often applies to cases involv- pass because of an overing discrimination or fundamental sight error in Secretary of

tect,” Pettys said.

Iowa is a “stand your ground” state, meaning civil immunity is granted when use of force is justified. The Hawkeye State also allows issuing a permit to residents beginning at 18 years old and recognizes permits from all other states.

Background checks for handguns in Iowa are applicable for five years. Gun owners used to have to get a background check done annually, but that law was changed in 2017.

Legislation to limit magazine capacity in rifles that was introduced by Democrats would be seen as unconstitutional if voters ratify the amendment.

“Our concern is about having strict scrutiny as a backup, because right now we have a lot of people considering packing the court to reverse any decisions,” Rogers, a board member for the Iowa Firearms Coalition, said.

According to a poll from Public Policy Polling, 83 percent of Americans support a criminal background check when purchasing firearms, yet Wessel-Kroeschell said under strict scrutiny, nobody knows how Iowa’s Supreme Court will interpret the current gun laws.

Holt said that the amendment would prevent restrictive gun legislation from being passed that would have otherwise been passed without needing to be examined any closer.

“We need this amendment to stop backdoor attempts in Iowa that infringe on the fundamental right to keep and bear arms through taxation, attacks on gun manufacturers, or arbitrary laws that attempt to outlaw certain types of firearms,” Holt said.

Wessel-Kroeschell said only 30 percent of all laws withstand a strict scru- only tiny challenge, which increases her concern with the amend- of all laws ment proposal. withstand She said that if a strict the amendment passes, she will be scrutiny worried that Iochallenge wa’s background checks and requirement for a permit to carry will be eliminated.

“Every American should have the freedom to be safe in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. Freedom to live our lives without the constant threat of gun violence hanging over our heads,” Wessel-Kroeschell said. “The reckless disregard for the gun violence that plagues so many people’s lives is morally bankrupt and doesn’t have anything to do with protecting freedom.”

30%

6 80 HOURS

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

The art of ‘good sound’ Iowa City producer and musician Capel Howorth produces music not only for Anthony Worden and the Illiterati but other local artists as well. His latest project is a band called Plainer, composed of him and his two friends.

Megan Conroy/The Daily Iowan Capel Howorth poses for a portrait in his home studio on Jan 29.

BY MEGAN CONROY

megan-conroy@uiowa.edu While riding in his dad’s red Merkur Scorpio, Capel Howorth’s dad would quiz him on artists like The Beatles and Steely Dan. He references those moments as the spark that drove him toward a deep love for music.

Now a local musician and producer in Iowa City, Howorth’s passion flourishes in his home project studio. There he jokes that his puppy, Simon, acts as his assistant.

Howorth’s musical journey started with the drums in his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. The piano lessons he said he never prac-

ticed for later came in handy when an aptitude test determined whether or not he’d get his choice of instrument in the middle school band.

Middle school snare drum turned into playing the bass for a band with his friends called PF Flyers. When the band of 17-year-olds got opportunities to make money playing shows, Howorth experienced his first of many tours.

His first taste of producing came from observing concert production at a restaurant venue in his hometown called Proud Larry’s, where he worked as a line cook. At 19, he then got a job at a larger venue in the town called The Lyric The-

ater, where he ran the sound system.

“I had no idea what I was doing. But with a venue that size, you get national touring, people who are either going up in their careers or coming down in significant ways,” he said. “I just kept doing what I had been doing before, but with more professional people, and just sponged information. Basically got a music degree for nothing.”

After realizing psychology wasn’t what he should be studying, Howorth took some time off from school.

When he went back, he studied music and English at the University of Mississippi, which he said helped him

with producing and speaking the musical language of the industry.

Howorth explained that he becomes excited by multiple stages of the music-producing process. He said he loves writing and working out the details until the opportunity arises to play the music live.

“But I also love getting the files, coming back here, and starting to arrange them in a way that’s like sculpting.

When a sculptor gets stones dropped off, it’s only potential,” Howorth said. “Then as it starts taking rough shape, that’s exciting because it’s going better than you thought. By the end of the process, the clarity of these

things we’ve worked so hard on really starts to show.”

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down production for Howorth, it hasn’t stopped. At the pandemic’s start, he said he started working remotely for his friends who wanted help with their musical ideas.

However, he only allowed the members of Anthony Worden and the Illiterati — a local band where he plays bass — into his home studio while they recorded the next record. Now, he said he maintains a strict schedule from start to finish of a project, where he doesn’t overlap clients and never sees more than two people at a time.

Howorth met musician Anthony Worden at an Arts Collective called the Garden Club. After a professional relationship developed, Worden asked him to play bass for the original members of the Illiterati.

“We went on tour for two weeks, and that solidified our friendship and mutual respect for being devoted to music,” he said. “He, I, and Carlo Kind started writing for Voilá and Elly [Hofmaier] sings with that band,” he said.

One of the aspects of music that Howorth said he’s the most passionate about now is what he describes as “good sounds.” For example, he said that a brilliant moment came from one wrong note played by bassist Blake Shaw that they built the song around. Similarly, he takes field recordings, like in a snowstorm, to encompass the atmosphere, he said.

“I like working with people who have a good vision of what they want the music to sound like and have really cool ideas, but they’re also

willing to experiment, play, and grow their sound,” he said. “What I probably get most excited about is when you see a sound that no one had thought of and it sparks this chain reaction of ‘With this sound, we could do this,’” Howorth said.

One of the artists he’s worked with the most lately is musician and Illiterati singer Elly Hofmaier, who performs and records under the name Penny Peach Jr. The musician said that when he started touring with the Illiterati shows, the two got to know each other.

Hofmaier voiced her uncertainty about going into a professional studio and the process of recording, so she came into Howorth’s home studio, hung out, and that’s how their first joint creation came to be. Howorth produced Hofmaier’s EP, called Brain Gamez.

Howorth’s newest project, titled ‘Plainer,’ is a threepiece band featuring Carlo Kind on bass, Howorth on drums, and MFA student Jackson Taylor singing. The project was born out of Taylor’s several minutes’ long guitar riffs which he brought to Howorth in the studio.

Howorth said he wanted to cut them up and turn them into songs, which they did.

“We were very much on the opposite sides of the spectrum and then over like a year, we finally got to the point where we could finally musically communicate and it was great,” Howorth said.

Plainer’s first song, “Lagoons” on their debut EP Via came out on Feb. 5 through Bandcamp, and the music video launched on Feb. 6.

The next installment of the EP is set to drop on Feb. 12, with the entire EP available on Valentine’s Day.

LIFE AT IOWA

When roommates don’t work out A DI arts reporter reflects on her past semester’s rooming situation.

BY TATIANA PLOWMAN

tatiana-plowman@uiowa.edu As an out-of-state freshman, the choice to come to the University of Iowa for the 2020 fall semester was a difficult decision. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I wasn’t sure if it was worth the money to move onto campus with the uncertainty of in-person classes. But I knew I couldn’t wait to start my college experience and take advantage of everything Iowa had to offer.

Seven months before my Aug. 16 move-in date, I

so knowing my roommate before moving in made me feel more comfortable about living five hours from home.

We moved in about a week before the start of the semester for a 3-day honors student workshop, a one credit hour course exploring a new topic of study. We spent our entire move-in day rearranging furniture and decorating our room in our Hillcrest Residence Hall. With photos of our closest family and friends and memorabilia adorning the space, the small space quickly felt like home.

As an out-of-state college student, jumping into an unknown environment with no pre-made friends stressed me out, so knowing my roommate before moving in made me feel more comfortable about living five hours from home. found a roommate through the UI Class of 2024 Facebook page. We instantly connected over shared high school activities, such as choir and a mutual love of Lana Del Rey. As an out-ofstate college student, jumping into an unknown environment with no pre-made friends stressed me out,

Throughout the semester, I began to notice our differing lifestyles and sleep schedules. Instead of being the best-friend roommates I thought we would be, we morphed into acquaintances that occupied the same space. We communicated with each other, letting one another

know when we needed the space for either Zoom calls or small-group gatherings.

I never had an inkling of what was to come.

Six days before I headed home for Thanksgiving Break, my roommate told me at midnight that she’d be moving out the following morning. The news shocked me. As she started packing up all of her things, I laid in my bed unable to sleep. Was it my fault that she was moving out? Although she told me that I wasn’t directly responsible, I couldn’t help but feel like it was. I only slept two hours that night.

Roommates don’t always work out. I know multiple people with similar experiences to mine. However, seeing my relationship crumble as fast as it did was an unexpected and stressful change. There are positives and negatives to every milestone in life. I decided to focus on moving forward.

Some of my now former roommates’ friends stopped by early to start moving her stuff into her new room, which happened to be on the same floor as the room we shared. I helped her carry the mul-

tiple boxes of clothing, jewelry, and miscellaneous items to her new room. Just as quickly as we had moved into our room, she was swiftly moved out.

Once she cleared all her stuff from the room, the space felt unrecognizable.

The walls were bare, like a vacant canvas waiting to be brought back to life.

The formerly overstuffed closet suddenly didn’t feel suffocating to walk into. I realized there were so many items we shared, and I found myself suddenly compiling a list of items I’d have to purchase. My Christmas list ended up forming itself.

University Housing and Dining offers students three options when it comes to handling room vacancies mid-contract.

Students either room with someone they already know who is looking to move, buy out the room as a single occupancy, or place themselves on the room change waitlist. I was given 48 hours to solidify a decision.

The residence halls, except for Catlett, Petersen, and Mayflower, charge $3,599.50 for a double room with air. A single room with air is $4,633.50. The sudden

Contributed Portrait of Tatiana Plowman price jump I’d have to make was something I couldn’t afford for this semester, especially during a pandemic.

While I would love the extra space in the room for my belongings, it was not worth an extra thousand dollars.

Most students I had met on campus already had housing arrangements for the spring semester, and with 1,124 fewer students living on campus during the fall 2020 semester because of the pandemic forcing most classes online, I already had a narrower pool of people to possibly room with. I searched

my class Facebook group, but had no luck finding a roommate within the time restrictions. I decided to place myself on the room change waitlist.

UI Housing and Dining said they would contact me if someone willing to fill the space in my dorm room appeared. For now, I wait in anticipation to see if I will indeed get another roommate. Although having the space to myself is nice, I also wouldn’t mind having a roommate to share the cost and to make a new friend.

Who knows, maybe it will end up being a lifelong friend and connection.

80 HOURS 7

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020

WEEKEND EVENTS THURSDAY 02.11

FRIDAY 02.12

MUSIC

LITERATURE • THE ANTI-RACIST WORKSHOP: HOW TO DECOLONIZE THE CREATIVE CLASSROOM, FELICIA ROSE CHAVEZ, 6 P.M., ONLINE EVENT, PRESENTED BY PRAIRIE LIGHTS

• BLAKE SHAW, 7:30 P.M., ELRAY’S LIVE & DIVE, 211 IOWA AVE • CHAD BEARDEN, 10 P.M., ELRAY’S LIVE & DIVE

MUSIC • KEVIN BURT, 7:30 P.M., ELRAY’S LIVE & DIVE

SATURDAY 02.13

SUNDAY 02.14

THEATER

THEATER

• GENERATION CANDYLAND: A FABLE, 8 P.M., ONLINE EVENT, PRESENTED BY THE UI THEATRE DEPARTMENT

• GENERATION CANDYLAND: A FABLE, ONLINE EVENT, PRESENTED BY THE UI THEATRE DEPARTMENT

MUSIC

MISC

• LOVE & ROCK — A VALENTINE CELEBRATION, 7 P.M., RIVERSIDE CASINO & GOLF RESORT, 3184 HWY 22, RIVERSIDE, IA

• VALENTINE’S DAY DRAG BRUNCH, 10 A.M., ELRAY’S LIVE & DIVE

THIS WEEK IN STREAMING

YOUR WEEKEND PLAYLIST Bitter Weather Bops Winter has made her stance clear: she’s not over yet. It can be hard to find joy during this bitter cold front, but DI Arts has got you covered with winter weather bops you can listen to in the comfort of your home!

SHUFFLE SONG

ARTIST

ALBUM

Ice Ice Baby

Vanilla Ice

To The Extreme

Sweater Weather

The Neighborhood

I Love You.

You’re The One That I Want

John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John

The Best of The Decca Years Volume One: The Singer

Chills

Why Don’t We

Single

Out Of The Woods

Taylor Swift

1989

Winter Things

Ariana Grande

Christmas & Chill

So Cold

Mahalo, DLMT, Lily Denning

EP: RILEY

White Winter Hymnal

Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes

Green River

Creedance Clearwater Revival

Green River

Starman

David Bowie

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)

Billy Joel

The Stranger

Two Of Us

The Beatles

Let It Be

American Pie

Don McLean

American Pie

Blowin’ in the Wind

Bob Dylan

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out

Eric Clapton

Unplugged

Nomadland

BY PARKER JONES

parker-jones@uiowa.edu It will be no surprise to see another incredible performance from twotime Academy Award winner Frances McDormand, although the actress has never tackled the indie genre.

Nomadland will be released to stream on Hulu on Feb. 19. Set in 2011, it tells the story of a woman named Fern who goes to travel the country after economic devastation befalls her small Nevada hometown. Embarking on an enlightening journey through the American West after losing everything, Fern decides to sell most of her belongings and live in a van, creating a new life for herself like that of a true nomad.

Based on the 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder, the dramatic independent film premiered last fall at the Venice Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion award, the festival’s top honor.

It also won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, making it the first in film history to win the top prize at both Venice and Toronto.

Nomadland was directed by Chinese filmmaker Chloé Zhao, who also wrote, edited, and produced the film alongside McDormand. The film exhibits performances from actor David Straitham, and even features several real nomads as fictionalized versions of themselves.

In addition to being highly acclaimed in the film festival circle, Nomadland has already received massive amounts of praise from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95 percent based on 230 critic reviews.

Sure to be one of the best films released in the past year, Nomadland will likely inspire and connect with anyone who views it.

REVIEW OF THE WEEK: Malcolm & Marie

BY TATIANA PLOWMAN

tatiana-plowman@uiowa.edu

ined most of my experience while watching the film, even though other elements were fantastic.

MA

LC

A R IE

soundtrack yet again proves that he is a force to be reckoned with, and his songs, reminiscent of his work on Euphoria, elevate the emotion of the film.

I am disappointed with this film. I love Levinson’s work on Euphoria, but this doesn’t compare at all.

Though ambitious for going the extra mile to create a film during the COVID-19 pandemic while following all safety guidelines, Levinson’s script ru-

&M

then some into their performances, digging deep into each and every moment. They are what make the 106 minute watchtime worth it. The pain in both of their eyes tell the story better than the dialogue itself. Taking the script in hand, both outperformed it and worked with what they were given. The pair also served as producers on the film, making this a special passion project for them.

Shot in black and white on an ARRI camera, the intimate moments between the two characters are stunning. The long-tracking shots encapsulate the world, creating an intimate experience between the audience and actors. The film was shot at the beautiful Caterpillar House in Santa Monica, and the black and white photography couldn’t have brought out the beauty of the details better. Labrinth’s

M

these inconsistencies weren’t caught throughout the film’s development.

The story is more than just about film critics, but it never takes the critical step to focus on the characters and their relationships to one another. When prime character development happens, it is interrupted with a lengthy monologue ridiculing film critics, destroying what was just built.

What makes Malcolm and Marie interesting was the filming process to create the final product. Being one of the first films to be entirely created during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 22-member cast and crew did a great job using the limited resources they were provided. Both Zendaya and Washington were in charge of their own makeup and costuming.

The actors put their all and

OL

The first Hollywood feature to be entirely written, produced, and funded during the COVID-19 pandemic, Malcolm & Marie, released on Netflix on Feb.5 starring Zendaya and John David Washington. Written and directed by Sam Levinson, most known for his work on Euphoria, the film takes an intimate look at when a couple’s relationship is tested. The night takes a turn when Malcolm, a film director, forgets to thank his girlfriend Marie at his feature film debut.

Levinson wrote the entire screenplay in six days, and as impressive a feat as that may seem, the results of hastiness quickly became evident to me in the final product. The dialogue was superficial, the meaning of sentences fell

flat. Levinson had used his own experiences in the film, from when he forgot to thank his own wife at the premiere of his 2018 film, Assasination Nation. The film itself earned negative reviews from critics, and the script for Malcolm and Marie makes it painfully clear that Levinson is still upset by how his film was received.

There were a lot of bold choices made on Levinson’s part, and while not all of them were necessarily bad, it was particularly frustrating for me to watch the film battle itself over its own takeaway message, leaving a wide range of interpretation for the viewer. The movie started with strong points, exposing the way critics unfairly critique Black filmmakers, only to undercut its own arguments with Levinson’s selfishness.

With no script advisor on the project, it is no surprise that

8 SPORTS

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Hawks look to snap the slump The Hawkeyes have lost four of their last five games, with three of those losses coming by five points or fewer.

BY ROBERT READ

robert-read@uiowa.edu The Iowa men’s basketball team’s Jan. 2 victory over Rutgers in New Jersey is an example of what the Hawkeyes haven’t done consistently lately.

Rutgers led that game as late as the 35-second mark of the second half, and the game was tied with only 16 seconds remaining. But Iowa, despite being down starter Connor McCaffery for all but three minutes of the contest, hit

the shots and made the defensive stops necessary down the stretch to win.

No. 15 Iowa’s (13-6 overall, 7-5 Big Ten) 6:30 p.m. rematch with Rutgers (11-6, 7-6) on Wednesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena serves as an opportunity for the Hawkeyes, who have lost four of their last five games, to get back to winning tightly contested games.

“It’s one of those things where we kept fighting and we kept fighting,” Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery said of

Casey Stone/The Daily Iowan Iowa Guard CJ Fredrick goes in for a jump shot during the Iowa Men’s Basketball game against Rutgers on Jan. 2 at The Rutgers Athletic Center. The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 77-75.

the first meeting between the teams. “The same was true in our losses [since then]. We were fighting. We’re just trying to be in a situation where we’re the last one standing.”

Aside from a 12-point defeat to Indiana on Jan. 21, three of Iowa’s last four losses have come by five points or fewer. After a six-point home win over Michigan State on Feb. 2 to snap a two-game losing skid, Iowa has lost its last two games by a combined six points.

Against Ohio State on Feb. 4, Iowa held an 11-point second-half lead but couldn’t close out the game, eventually losing by four.

In the team’s most recent loss to Indiana on Sunday, Jordan Bohannon tied the game with a clutch 3-pointer with 27 seconds to play. But the next time down the court, the Hawkeyes gave up a Hoosiers basket with only one second remaining and lost by two.

“I think it’s a lot of things,” Connor McCaffery said of Iowa losing close games. “A little bit of it is get a bounce here, get a call, maybe that changes things. To a certain extent, it’s better execution down the stretch, better player personnel — knowing who does what — and then just finishing out possessions.”

Along with losing close, competitive games, another theme from Iowa’s slump is C.J. Fredrick’s absence from the lineup.

The sharpshooting sophomore guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, did not play in the sec-

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan Iowa guard CJ Fredrick dribbles during a men’s basketball game between Iowa and Minnesota at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 10. The Hawkeyes defeated the Golden Gophers, 86-71. ond half of Iowa’s first game against Indiana and has only played 11 minutes since then because of a lower leg injury.

As for what he brings to the Hawkeyes, a pair of McCafferys weighed in: “He’s our best perimeter defender and he’s the best shooter in the Big Ten,” Fran McCaffery said. “So, you’re gonna miss that guy.”

“He’s a dynamic scorer, he can score at all three levels,” Connor McCaffery said. “He’s a good defender. He brings another deadly 3-point shooter into the lineup. He’s able to go for 20 points any night.

Just another thing defenses have to worry about. He opens things up for Luka [Garza] because he creates more space.”

Fran McCaffery said on his

video conference Tuesday that the plan is for Fredrick, who led the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage as a freshman last season (46.1 percent), to play against Rutgers. But that plan could change as Fredrick remains day to day, and McCaffery said likely will for the remainder of the season.

Whether Fredrick plays or not, Iowa is faced with the most adversity it has faced at any point this season. For the first time since the preseason rankings were announced, the Hawkeyes are not a top-10 team.

For a team with aspirations of making a deep NCAA Tournament run, Iowa is focused on correcting its late-game falters.

First on Wednesday against

Note: The clues in this “uniclue” crossword appear in a single list, combining Across and Down. When two answers share a number, they also share a clue, in a manner to be determined.

No. 0106

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Rubberneck Lands heavily Predators of penguins ___ to shame Stiffly formal Rice-A-___ Not reacting Raised one’s spirits?

Old Glory Past the point of being a joke, say Best Picture winner directed by Ben Affleck Fidel’s brother and successor in Cuba Take off No ___ traffic Author Jaffe Holy scroll Sold at Sotheby’s, say “Huh-uh!”

Scoundrel Multivitamin fig.

Part of the Notre-Dame Cathedral destroyed by a 2019 fire Remark from one who’s obviously not going to call Ancient Jewish ascetic Emoji that can mean “Get a load of this!”

East Coast city on a western coast 60 secs.

City near Leeds with historic walls “Quit fooling around!”

Second-level Counselor Deanna on the U.S.S. Enterprise Frayed so?

Pen sound Kind of sauce in Chinese cuisine Third and fourth word in many limericks French political division Vivid colors

Rutgers. Then Saturday in a rematch with Michigan State in East Lansing. Then on the road against Wisconsin, and so on down the rest of the team’s loaded conference schedule.

“There’s two ways we can look at this,” said freshman forward Keegan Murray, who has started in Fredrick’s absence. “We can either have our heads down and mope about it, feel sorry for ourselves, or we can go out with the mindset that we’re still the team we felt like we could be at the beginning of the year and that we’ve shown we can be. And that’s something that we all believe in right now, and we’re going to try and get back into the win column this week.”

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 2

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

Game with antlers The last one was named Louis Breakfast grains Portuguese greeting Fully from, as a place 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup champs Footwear fashion faux pas Condition that can lead to repetitive behavior, for short Risk losing one’s license, say 1950s-’60s entertainment group Container at a bakery Button on a deli scale Houston team Country with 28 states Enthusiasm Actor Poitier “Gotcha” Each Exaggerated stories Proven to be reliable Orange discard “No food for me, thanks” “Impractical Jokers” channel Italian man Reproductive cells Cowboy’s lasso Sneaker insert Former Japanese P.M. Shinzo ___ Store hours word Anxiety about being excluded from the fun, for short “Feel the ___” (bygone political slogan) Paradises The Jackson 5 had some big ones, informally “Slow Churned” ice cream brand

THE DAILY IOWAN | DAILYIOWAN.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

MARTIN CONTINUED FROM 10 mask around her eyes and nose to protect her face.

Martin said the mask only slightly inhibits her vision, and although it’s not ideal to play with something on her face, she isn’t making any excuses.

“She’s being so modest about the mask,” junior center Monika Czinano said. “I know it really does affect vision and how she can see, but she’s so tough that she’ll never admit it.

The fact that she broke her nose one time and she just broke it again, going hard in practice, like she didn’t need to, but she did. She’s incredibly tough mentally and physically, and I think it puts the team up a lot.”

Originally, Martin only had to wear her mask for six weeks following the Illinois game Jan. 3. But a slip in practice last week

SPORTS 9

caused Martin’s nose to break again — tacking on another five to six weeks of mask-wearing.

“One of the grey squad guys threw a beautiful bullet pass right to my face, and I ate it,” Martin said. “So, the mask will continue.”

According to Czinano, Martin’s roommate, No. 20’s toughness doesn’t fade away when she steps off the hardwood.

“In the apartment, she’s definitely the stronger one,” Czinano said. “I have her room closer to the door because in my head, if somebody breaks in, Kate can go get them first, that’s my mindset.”

Martin, her facemask, and the rest of the Iowa women’s basketball team will take on Nebraska this Thursday in Lincoln.

The game will begin at 7 p.m. and be streamed on BTN+.versus Minnesota Grace Smith/The Daily Iowan and Nebraska.

Kate Martin shoots the ball at the Iowa Women’s Basketball game against Indiana on Feb. 7 at Carver Hawkeye Arena. Indiana defeated Iowa 85-72.

BRUNER CONTINUED FROM 10

HANSON CONTINUED FROM 10

deep run in the NCAA tournament. Only one team has made the final four in the last decade with a KenPom defensive rating lower than 47th.

As good as the Big Ten is this year, Iowa can’t afford play poorly on the defensive end of the floor. Defensive stops are the key to winning games late.

If Iowa is trailing late in games, it seemingly can’t get the stops it needs to win.

When the offense is firing on all cylinders, the Hawkeyes are almost unstoppable. If the offense struggles, however, Iowa struggles — primarily because its defense isn’t good enough to win games.

Iowa’s defensive problems are fixable. At times, the Hawkeyes have had nice spurts defensively. But until the defense starts to regularly play better, it’s difficult to see the Hawkeyes making a deep run in March.

health, it is still missing one key piece.

Sophomore guard and starter C.J. Fredrick is the only Hawkeye that has missed time with an injury this year.

According to an Iowa men’s basketball spokesman, Fredrick has been dealing with a lower leg injury that’s held him out of the Hawkeyes’ matchups with No. 6 Illinois, No. 4 Ohio State, and Indiana.

Fredrick’s bum leg also forced him to miss most of Iowa’s Jan. 21 matchup with Indiana and its game against Michigan State.

The commonality in each of Iowa’s four most recent losses is Fredrick missing time or sitting the game out entirely.

Prior to Fredrick’s injury, Iowa was ranked fifth in the nation per the AP poll.

The Hawkeyes had defeated then-No. 14 Rutgers on the road, thrashed the then-No. 19 Northwestern Wildcats by double digits twice, beaten Maryland by 22 points on the road, and downed thenNo. 16 Minnesota at home by 15.

Then, Fredrick began missing time. When he sat out the second half of Iowa’s Jan. 21 matchup with Indiana, the Hawkeyes did not score for nearly 11 minutes and lost, 81-69.

After that, the Hawkeyes fell to Illinois, Ohio State, and Indiana by single digits.

On the season, Fredrick is averaging nearly nine points per game. Add Fredrick’s average nine points to the Hawkeyes’ totals in all four of their most recent losses, and Iowa would be 3-1 in those four games.

Yes, Iowa men’s basketball is slipping right now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t find its footing when Fredrick returns.

itude because she has always been such a giver to our team, and what better way than to just completely go crazy when she gets that block or

ready in case her name gets called again.

“It’s that be-ready mentality, you never know what is going to happen, and you never

Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan Iowa guard CJ Fredrick defends during a men's basketball game between Iowa and Minnesota at CarverHawkeye Arena on Jan. 10. The Hawkeyes defeated the Golden Gophers, 86-71.

TUBBS CONTINUED FROM 10 far in her college career. Her appearance against Indiana was her first of the year and only her fifth as a Hawkeye.

Even though she is not a regular rotation player, Tubbs is a locker room presence that improves team chemistry and contributes a lot beNichol Smith/The Daily Iowan hind the scenes.

Middle blocker Grace Tubbs follows the ball “Grace is just an during the Iowa and Nebraska volleyball game amazing teammate on Nov. 9, 2019, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. and an amazing

friend,” sophomore outside hitter Edina Schmidt said.

“She gives so much to the team, and I think that is why everyone got so excited and super happy for her.”

Not much time is spent recognizing the contribution of bench players in practice to help prepare their teammates for game situations.

Tubbs has embraced the role of challenging the starters and other key playmakers to help them play at the highest level possible.

“I think my biggest role is in practice pushing the girls that do play to their absolute hardest and making them better every practice,” Tubbs said. “When we

get into games and I see all of the things that we have been working on come out during those games, I think that’s when I know that my role on the team is fulfilling and I know that I am doing my job.

Tubbs did not waste her time on the court Friday, as she quickly assisted a block on Indiana’s second-team All-Big Ten outside hitter Breana Edwards and hammered home a kill to set up the match point for Iowa.

Xtream Arena was the loudest it had been all night as Tubbs joined the huddle with her teammates after the block.

“The celebration was grat-

It's that be-ready mentality, you never know what is going to happen, and you never know what the other team is going to put up.

— UI Sophomore Grace Tubbs gets that kill,” Brown said. “I really do think it was just the team’s way of showing appreciation for all that she has given to the team.

Tubbs did not play in Saturday’s loss to Indiana but is

know what the other team is going to put up,” Tubbs said. “Just staying ready and staying positive, and if your name is called getting warm and not letting your nerves get the best of you.”

Sports WEDNESDAY, FEBURARY 10, 2021

HAWKEYE UPDATES Iowa wrestling pauses in-person activities

Per a release, Hawkeye wrestling paused all team-related in-person activities at the direction of the University of Iowa medical team on Monday. The decision comes in response to positive COVID-19 test results within Iowa’s wrestling program.

Prior to the pause, head coach Tom Brands and seniors Alex Marinelli and Kaleb Young had all tested positive for COVID-19.

Brands tested positive Feb. 3 and missed Iowa’s Feb. 7 triangular meet with Purdue and Ohio State. Young also sat out of Sunday’s triangular meet in West Lafayette.

Marinelli was absent from both the Feb. 7 triangular and Iowa’s dual with Illinois Jan. 31.

The Hawkeyes’ road dual with No. 4 Penn State Feb. 12 has been postponed out of an abundance of caution surrounding the health and safety of the meet’s participants. Both institutions will work with the Big Ten Conference to identify rescheduling options.

Current league health and safety protocols dictate that all student-athletes who test positive for COVID-19 be sidelined for 17 days.

According to a release, Iowa wrestling will continue to follow conference medical protocols and Iowa’s medical team will make a determination on return to activity.

“We are appreciative of the Iowa medical staff and respect the decision to pause activities,” Brands said in a release. “We will continue to follow Big Ten protocols and look forward to a return to training and competition.”

THE MOST COMPLETE HAWKEYE SPORTS COVERAGE IN IOWA

Martin unfazed by injuries Sophomore captain Kate Martin, coming off of an ACL tear two years ago, is currently playing through a broken nose she suffered earlier this season.

Hannah Kinson/The Daily Iowan Iowa guard Kate Martin passes the ball during a women's basketball game against Purdue on Jan. 18 at Carver Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes defeated the Boilermakers 87-81.

BY CHLOE PETERSON peterson-chloe@uiowa.edu

Cassioppi named Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week Hawkeye heavyweight Tony Cassioppi has been named Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week, per a Tuesday morning release. The 285-pound Roscoe, Illinois, native split the weekly award with Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso, who pinned No. 5 Max Murin and defeated Purdue’s Trey Kruse via technical fall over the weekend.

In Iowa’s most recent meet, a triangular with Purdue and Ohio State held Feb. 7, Cassioppi recorded two wins via fall. First, the sophomore pinned Purdue’s Dorian Keys in the first period, then, he flattened No. 10 Tate Orndorff of Ohio State in four minutes and 52 seconds.

Cassioppi has won all three of his most recent matches by fall. Two of those victories came against top 10 opponents in his weight class.

Prior to Tuesday, Cassioppi had never received a Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor. An Iowa wrestler has now taken home a Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor on three occasions this season as 125-pound Spencer Lee has already won the award twice.

DAILYIOWAN.COM

Iowa women’s basketball sophomore Kate Martin spent her first year as a Hawkeye on the sidelines, nursing an ACL tear for her entire freshman season.

In the 2019-20 season, Martin played off the bench, sporting a brace on her knee in her

first full season on the Hawkeyes’ active roster.

“When I tore my ACL, I asked myself a lot, ‘Why did this happen to me?’”

Martin said. “But, looking back on it, I’m really happy that it did, and it taught me a lot, and it taught me about how to be a good teammate first before a good player.”

Learning to be a good teammate helped Martin

earn team captaincy for the 2020-21 season, a rarity for sophomores on Lisa Bluder-coached teams.

This season, Martin is finally free of her knee brace, and she grabbed a coveted sport in Iowa’s starting lineup.

Unfortunately for Martin, the injuries still haven’t stopped.

Nine games into the 2020-21 season, Martin

was hit in the face by a basketball in a game against Illinois on Jan. 3.

Although she sat out of the rest of Iowa’s dominant 107-68 win that day, Martin wasn’t sidelined for long, and she returned to practice just days later.

“I’m really, really, happy with her play,” Bluder said. “Kate came in here, we were really ex-

– Iowa men’s basketball head coach Fran McCaffery on the absence of sophomore guard and starter C.J. Fredrick.

STAT OF THE DAY

6

UI Athletics positive COVID-19 tests of 472 conducted Feb. 1-7.

SEE MARTIN, 9

PCP

Why is Iowa struggling? Tubbs bolsters team chemistry Two DI staffers try to determine what has been ailing Iowa men’s basketball over the last few weeks.

Sophomore Grace Tubbs appeared in her first match of the season on Friday and registered her first block and kill in the win against Indiana.

BY WILL FINEMAN william-fineman@uiowa.edu

QUOTE OF THE DAY “He’s our best perimeter defender and he’s the best shooter in the Big Ten. You’re gonna miss that guy.”

cited about her, she tore her ACL in the summer [before her freshman season] and sat out that whole year … Now, this kid is playing with a broken nose and a mask that sometimes does inhibit her vision.”

While Martin’s current injury has not kept her off the court, it has forced her to wear a protective

Hannah Kinson/The Daily Iowan Iowa guard CJ Fredrick shoots a basket during a men's basketball game against Indiana on Thursday, Jan. 21 at Carver Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes were defeated by the Hoosiers, 69-81.

BY AUSTIN HANSON austin-hanson@uiowa.edu

BY EVAN BRUNER

It’s no secret that Iowa men’s basketball has been fighting through a midseason tailspin of late.

The Hawkeyes have dropped four of their last five contests, and now sit at No. 15 in the AP Top 25 Poll — down from a season-high ranking as No. 3.

What does seem to be a mystery is the reason for which Iowa is struggling. Some might contend that the Hawkeyes’ defense is the source of their problems, while others believe coaching deficiencies are bogging Iowa down.

What’s plagued the Hawkeyes of late isn’t poor defense or coaching, it’s the injury bug. While Iowa isn’t nursing an array of its players back to

Obviously, the absence of sophomore guard and starter C.J. Fredrick over the last couple of weeks has contributed to No. 15 Iowa’s recent skid. Even after Fredrick returns, however, the Hawkeyes will still face a bevy of issues.

The Hawkeyes aren’t balanced enough to consistently win in the Big Ten Conference. They have become too reliant on their offense to win games. According to KenPom, the Hawkeyes have the best offense and 121st-ranked defense in all of college basketball. Per KenPom, Iowa’s defense is the worst in the Big Ten. Iowa’s elite offense allows it to get away with playing subpar defense at times, but that isn’t a recipe for a

evan-bruner@uiowa.edu

SEE HANSON, 9

SEE BRUNER, 9

Iowa volleyball’s Feb. 5 matchup against Indiana was special for the Hawkeyes for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it was Iowa’s inaugural match at Xtream Arena, and second, it saw the Hawkeyes pick up their first win of the season.

The Hawkeyes were up 21-13 against Indiana late in the fourth set and had the momentum to put the Hoosiers away.

At that time, head coach Vicki Brown turned to the bench and called on No. 16 to sub in at middle blocker.

Frequent substitutions are routine in volleyball and are therefore not typically cause for a reaction from those in attendance.

When sophomore Grace Tubbs took the court late in the fourth set, though, her teammates on the bench and the match’s limited attendees made their voices heard to cheer on the Clinton, Iowa, native.

“Grace Tubbs, for us, the best way to describe her as a teammate is just genuine,” Brown said.

“If she is celebrating because you get a point, you know it is from the heart because she knows what you did to get there and to get that point.”

As a sophomore sitting behind experienced middle blockers like junior Hannah Clayton, Tubbs has not gotten much playing time thus SEE TUBBS, 9